The amount of wonderful things the Isle of Man has lost as our tourist industry dwindled through the decades is staggering.
Fortunately, there are still teams of dedicated volunteers who aren't content to let this valuable past fade. The Groudle Glen railway is a fantastic example of what can be achieved with passion, dedication and - undoubtedly - a little bit of stoic bloody-mindedness. Originally built at the end of the 19th century, this tiny line ran from Lhen Coan, at the top of the glen, to the small zoo situated at Sea Lion Rocks where visitors could see (unsurprisingly) sea lions, as well as polar and brown bears. Although this sounds "well cool" (as us oldies say), there's little doubt that these unfortunate animals were held in thoroughly miserable conditions - especially the bears. The zoo closed for good after the Second World War, with a vague report that the animals had been "released". This gives us some hope that there's a hitherto undiscovered colony of wild polar bears living quietly on the outskirts of Onchan, somehow surviving on leftover chips, cheese and gravy. We've got wallabies, so why not?
The railway had been completely dismantled by the end of the 1970s, but in 1982 a group of volunteers began the fairly mammoth process of clearing the land and re-laying track. Over the next 30-odd years, they managed to create a marvellous little line - full of fun and exquisitely presented. One of the original steam engines - "Sea Lion", now fully restored - still runs from Lhen Coan station to the Sea Lion Rocks tea room, where there are informative displays and, most importantly, excellent cakes.
Their Hop-Tu-Naa and Christmas trains are always in great demand and are loads of fun. It's worth checking their website to see what events they have coming up.
By GKA - Own work (Original text: I created this work entirely by myself.), CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11353466
Access
There is no wheelchair access to the site, and a combination of steps and uneven ground can make any access difficult for the less able.
Contact Details
King Edward Road
Onchan
This website is not connected with the organisation listed.
If you wish to contact them then please use the details above.
If any of the information listed on this page is incorrect then please contact us click here.
Location
Google Maps Directions
Opening Hours
It's probably best to click this link and check their operating timetable.
Admission
Initial value
Published: 24 May 2023
The information provided is correct at the time of publishing. Please check with the organisation involved for the most up to date information.
